Some Suggestions for Faster Turn Times

The appraisal profession is always evolving. Regularly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their research - all to guarantee the end user gets the best data possible. To keep up with the constantly changing requirements, William Newcomb is always acquiring additional tools and improving processes to increase efficiency so we can do more work for you. Since William Newcomb knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a few items you can do to accelerate the process each time you order an appraisal with William Newcomb:

  1. Are you ordering appraisals online? By ordering online, you automatically receive e-mail confirmations that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip alone will save the most time! We don't have to retype information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether the order was received.

  2. Complete and accurate subject property data is crucial. Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name is great information to include with your request. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.

    3. If you have any questions about your property or an assignment we're working on for you, feel free to call us at 609-602-0855

  3. Be sure to tell us about the unique elements of this property. Cookie-cutter houses are relatively easy to appraise. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing features add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When ordering your report, let us know if there are unique details of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as early as possible makes your report arrive earlier.

  4. Set proper expectations with the occupants. One of the most tedious steps of the appraisal process is setting an appointment with the occupants of the home. We understand that a homeowner may be uncomfortable with an outsider looking in every corner of their home, taking pictures, and making abundant notes. Not uncommonly they think they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection, with the notion that will increase the value and will delay the inspection until the house is cleaned.

    Coming directly from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- some knowledge about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't increase their home's value one bit, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has numerous pages of relevant information about the appraisal process for homeowners. I encourage you to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to meet the staff and learn more about our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment promptly!

  5. Our website is a great resource for keeping tabs on the status of your report. Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7? As each important milestone in an assignment is completed, that information can be viewed instantly online. There's no faster or easier way to keep track of the status of your report.